Can a Boy Be a Babysitter?
We get asked this question all the time: Can a boy be a babysitter?
Our answer? Absolutely!
Whether you’ve found this article because you’re thinking of hiring a boy babysitter, training one, or want to be one yourself — here are the answers you need:
1. When a boy babysitter a great choice for the job?
Some boys can make fantastic babysitters! When the boy is a natural caretaker and looks out for kids younger than himself, then this is the type of guy you’re looking for.
A boy babysitter potentially brings different strengths to the job, like being willing to sit and play action figures for hours, or knowing all those Star Wars characters’ names.
A boy babysitter may be more willing to play for hours in the back yard with your child or bundle up and play in the snow on a day that school is unexpectedly canceled.
So, if you’re looking to hire a sitter for your sons, a boy babysitter may have more interests in common and provide a role model for your boys to look up to.
It is just really important to know and trust the person you’re hiring for the job. (More on this in a minute.)
2. When is a boy babysitter not the best choice?
If all the teen boys you know are prone to mischief or in that classic “teen-making-stupid-choices” phase, then don’t hire them to watch your kids.
If you have daughters, you might prefer a female babysitter. With the nature of the job as alone time with kids, you don’t want to run the risk of accusations of sexual misconduct. This goes both ways and serves to protect boy babysitters as much as it does the precious children they are watching. If anything were to go downhill under his watch, it might raise extra suspicions. If you have hesitation about hiring a boy babysitter, trust your instincts and don’t feel badly about it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
3. Thinking about hiring a boy babysitter? What do you need to know?
Most importantly, know the individual!
Parents should screen any sitter, male or female, who wishes to spend time with their kids. All sitters should be certified and ready to take on the responsibility of caring for kids. As mentioned before, some boys are great sitters and others may prefer to stick to other hobbies or jobs.
So you need to know the individual you’re hiring — or at least have dependable references indicating his trustworthiness.
If you’re not sure, think about hiring him as a “Mother’s Helper” first. In this role, he plays with and cares for your kids while you’re still nearby. You can stay in earshot and assess whether he’s suited to watch your kids.
Ask if he’s certified, too. If not, suggest that he takes Babysitting 101 so you’ll know he knows everything he needs to about taking care of children.
And lastly, if you’re hiring a sitter — boy or girl — make sure you write down the house rules and expectations for the evening. That way there’s no question that your wishes have been made known.
4. So your son might be a candidate for boy babysitting?
Awesome! What should you know?
First of all, a boy babysitter has to want the job. If you have a son who you think would be a great babysitter, by all means encourage him. The world can use more boys being trained to become great caretakers!
But if he doesn’t show interest or would rather spend his time doing something else, let him. The last thing a parent needs is a babysitter — boy or girl — who doesn’t want to be there and isn’t interested in taking care of the kids. Yikes! And if he is reluctant now, maybe you can revisit the idea after he’s matured a bit.
He should also know that being a babysitter is about being there for the kids. It’s not about playing a video game while snacking on someone else’s food. It’s not even ultimately about making money. He should be aware of his responsibility and take the job seriously. (This goes for girls, too, of course.)
So can boys be babysitters? Absolutely! Do you have a boy pre-teen or teenager who might be a great candidate? Get him certified with Babysitting 101, and you know he’ll be a ready, responsible sitter.
What do you think? Would you hire a boy babysitter? Anything we missed? Or have any stories to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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